The 2025 Region IV track and field championship took place over the weekend at Dimond High School, starting on Friday and wrapping up Saturday.

Among the top athletes from the Cook Inlet Conference who squared off with bids to compete in next week’s state meet were a pair of Lynx teammates who were right at home.

Senior Sarah Dittman and sophomore Nevaeh Watkins were able to successfully defend their region titles by jumping to new heights and distances.

On Friday, Watkins won the girls high jump for the second year in a row with a meet record and personal-best mark of 5 feet, 8 inches.

“I’ve been practicing a lot for high jump recently,” she said. “Every Monday, I practice with my coach and I think it’s really paid off so far.”

After failing to clear the record-breaking height on her first two attempts, she made an adjustment and made sure that the third time was the charm.

“My coach told me what I had to do to fix everything and I did it,” Watkins said.

On Saturday, Dittman was the first of two long jumpers to achieve the same feat as she broke her own meet record set last year — not once but twice between the prelims and finals — culminating with a first-place mark of 18-04.

“I was a little worried because I hadn’t (recorded a personal best) since the IceBreakers before the season started, but I came in today with great weather, my coaches were really excited and I was really excited,” she said.

Dittman felt the pressure of being the defending region champ but didn’t let it weigh her down as she soared to new heights.

“I broke it by three-quarters of an inch and I was like, ‘Oh that’s not enough,’ ” she said. “I just focused on my fundamentals.”

State track will also take place on her school’s home turf, and she feels like that gives her an advantage.

“I run here every day, and now that I’ve learned how to jump from the further board, that’s a big confidence booster because that was my issue last year,” Dittman said.

The two friends and teammates also competed against each other in the girls 100-meter hurdles in a tight race that went down to the wire. Watkins (15.56) pulled just ahead at the very end after Dittman (15.61) had led for most of the race.

“It was really a mental battle, honestly,” Watkins said. “I could see that she was ahead of me, so I kept pushing myself and pushing myself to go a little faster.”

Securing back-to-back titles has filled her with not only confidence moving forward but also a “lot of hope of what is to come” at both the state meet next week and nationals later this year.

Other top takeaways and highlights from regions

Dittman wasn’t the only long jumper who made history on Saturday. In the boys division, Ariel Sanchez of West bested the region meet record with his first-place mark of 23-3/4. That’s longer than the current state meet record, which he could break with a repeat performance next weekend.

He pulled his hamstring during his second jump at last year’s regions and qualified for state with a second-place finish but couldn’t compete due to the injury.

“It feels good because last year before I pulled (the hamstring), A’Lante (Owens-Player) jumped 22-10 and that pushed me to jump farther than him and that’s when I pulled my hamstring,” Sanchez said. “Coming to this meet this year knowing I had the ability to beat him and I did today, it just feels good.”

In the offseason, the two-sport star who also stood out on the gridiron for the Eagles spent more time in the weight room building up his body.

“I’m going to try to break the record I just jumped today next week,” Sanchez said.

Another first-time region champion who outshined his competition was Chugiak sophomore Benjamin Hiestand, whose first-place mark of 164-8 in the boys discus was nearly 20 feet farther than the runner-up.

“It feels good to have a good mark out there and have a good first season here in Alaska,” Hiestand said. “I was calm, pretty confident and expected to win. I wanted to have a good mark out there and make a statement for states.”

Hiestand moved up here from Mountain Home, Idaho, because his mother is in the Air Force. He was one of the top throwers in his previous state, finishing fifth as a freshman at state where the winning mark was about 200 feet. While he hasn’t come close to that impressive mark yet, he is working toward it as his current personal best is 169-11.

For the second year in a row, the 3200 and 1600 meter races were swept by the same person. On the girls side, Chugiak’s Hannah Shaha won Friday’s 3200 in a time of 11:29.79 and Saturday’s 1600 in 5:16.57.

“This was my goal and I just feel so happy to accomplish it,” she said.

Bettye Davis East’s Rosie Conway was hot on Shaha’s heels for most of the race but couldn’t quite close the distance as she finished second with a mark of 5:17.32.

“I never know where she is, so I kind of was looking at my coach just to kind of gauge how far she was, but I definitely just had the foot on the gas the whole time because I did not want her to come get me right at the end,” Shaha said.

Shaha’s confidence heading into state is soaring and she looks forward to competing against the other elite endurance runners next week.

Meanwhile, in the boys division, South’s Vebjorn Flagstad cruised to victory in both distance events with first-place times of 9:39.08 in the 3200 and 4:26.81 in the 1600.

“This season has been a little up and down compared to last year,” he said. “Last year, I felt was like a breakout year for me. I kind of surprised myself and I was kind of the underdog a little bit, so this year I had more pressure coming into it. I’m just glad I was able to keep it going.”

Flagstad has been working on maintaining his top pace in recent workouts, and it paid off on Saturday as he was able to widen the gap between himself and the other runners on the final two laps.

“I didn’t want it to slow down (on the) second lap so I just tried to keep it going smooth,” he said. “The third lap is where you always die, so I really tried to push that one and then the last lap you’re just sprinting.”

Pulling off a successful title defense “definitely boosts” his confidence heading into the state meet next week.

“I hadn’t really been racing that good in The Dome and inside, so putting down some good times is going to help my confidence,” Flagstad said.

The reigning region champions in the 100-meter races pulled off successful title defenses as well. Chugiak’s Jihsana Williams repeated as the girls champion with a first-place time of 12.42. West’s Beckett Stolp did the same for the boys by narrowly crossing the finish line ahead of the field with a mark of 11.19.

Region IV Track and Field Championships

Girls

Team Scores

1. Chugiak 172.5; 2. Dimond 155; 3. South 73; 4. West 61; 5. East 56.5; 6. Service 44; 7. Bartlett 9; 8. Eagle River 7.

3200 Meters Finals

1. Hannah Shaha 11:29.79, Chugiak

2. Rosie Conway 11:37.33, East

3. Madeleine Lojewski 11:43.02, East

4. Ellie Stull 11:44.76, Dimond

5. Fiona Selvik 11:49.99, Service

Shot Put Unified Finals

1. Emi Hamazaki 18′07.00, East

2. Amira Smith 12′04.25, Dimond

3. Paisley Price 12′02.50, Chugiak

4. Anna Stewart 11′11.00, Chugiak

5. Gianna Fraize 9′09.00, Chugiak

Shot Put 4kg Partners Finals

1. Aniyah Smalley25′00.75, East

2. Emmalee Griffin 24′01.00, Chugiak

3. Schumacher Heidi 22′07.25, Service

4. Dylenn Donovan 22′00.75, Chugiak

5. Azalea Daugherty 20′11.00, Chugiak

Discus 1kg Finals

1. Alessa Scott 116′02.00, Dimond

2. Mona Koko 109′09.00, West

3. Ailafo Fautanu 101′04.00, Dimond

4. Adelaide Masimer 91′09.00, Eagle River

5. Avery Wilson 91′06.00, Chugiak

High Jump Finals

1. Nevaeh Watkins 5′8.00, Dimond

2. Autumn Larson 5′1.00, Chugiak

3. Elliette Svencer 4′10.00, Chugiak

4. Lola Poitevin 4′8.00, East

4. Kaitlyn Farr 4′8.00, Chugiak

Long Jump Unified Finals

1. Emi Hamazaki 8′07.50, East

2. Anna Stewart 7′00.25, Chugiak

3. Paisley Price 5′05.25, Chugiak

4. Amira Smith 5′00.75, Dimond

5. Katie Tracy 3′04.75, Chugiak

Long Jump Partners Finals

1. Anna Burrup 13′02.75, Chugiak

2. Azalea Daugherty 12′08.75, Chugiak

3. Cadence Johns 12′01.00, Chugiak

4. Dylenn Donovan 11′07.25, Chugiak

5. Emmalee Griffin 11′05.00, Chugiak

Triple Jump Finals

1. Avrey Campbell 34′03.25, Dimond

2. Izabela Sullivan 34′02.50, West

3. Sofia Zaccanti 33′02.00, East

4. Maya Tirpack 33′01.50, South

5. Darby D’Amico 32′08.25, South

Boys

Team Scores

1. Chugiak 115; 2. South 106; 3. Bartlett 73.5; 4. Dimond 62.5; 5. East 57; 6. West 56; 7. Eagle River 54; 7. Service 54.

3200 Meters Finals

1. Vebjorn Flagstad 9:39.08, South

2. Katahdin Staples 9:46.43, East

3. David Penfield 9:58.82, Chugiak

4. Jaxon Henrie 10:09.07, South

5. Kohen Galloway 10:20.62, Chugiak

Shot Put – 12lb Finals

1. Deuce Alailefaleula 53′02.75, Bartlett

2. George Lane 48′00.25, East

3. Benjamin Hiestand 47′05.25, Chugiak

4. Tyler Cage 46′04.75, Chugiak

5. Julian Jones 45′02.00, South

Shot Put Unified Finals

1. Norbert Keyes 29′07.00, Service

2. Lansen Ray-Davis 21′04.25, East

3. Aiden Zamora 21′03.00, Service

4. Noah Zamora 21′02.75, Service

5. Christopher Jemison 20′03.50, East

Shot Put – 12lb Partners Finals

1. Karl Hoeft 34′05.75, East

2. Maximus McFall 27′09.50, Chugiak

3. Jarrett Jackson 27′03.25, Dimond

4. Carter Pyne 26′04.75, East

5. Raylon Ulroan 25′03.00, Service

High Jump Varsity – Finals

1. Ariel Sanchez 5′10.00, West

2. Cameron Anderson 5′8.00, Service

3. Kevan Henderson 5′8.00, Service

4. Jaxon Henrie 5′6.00, South

5. Kahliel Bernard-Alli 5′4.00, Bartlett

Long Jump – Unified Finals

1. Christopher Jemison 11′05.75, East

2. Noah Zamora 11′03.50, Service

3. Lansen Ray-Davis 10′04.25, East

4. Norbert Keyes 10′01.50, Service

5. Jay Main 9′10.75, Service

Long Jump Partners Finals

1. Ian Johns 16′05.50, Chugiak

2. Aiden Lardner 16′04.00, East

3. Jacob Wahlman 14′11.75, Service

4. Raylon Ulroan 14′09.25, Service

5. Maximus McFall 14′08.75, Chugiak

Triple Jump Varsity Finals

1. Isaiah Douyon 43′11.00, South

2. Elijah Adams 41′04.50, Eagle River

3. Tyler Drake 41′02.75, Bartlett

4. Corde Bates 41′02.75, Dimond

5. Solomon Johnson 41′01.00, South

BISMARCK — West Fargo’s Michelle Gee had a dominant day Saturday at the North Dakota state track and field meet at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.

Gee was a triple-winner in Class A girls, taking first place in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. She tied an overall state meet record in the 100 with a time of 11.97 seconds on the final day of the three-day event.

Fargo Davies’ Kate Laqua also had a strong showing, taking first place in the Class A girls in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Laqua was named the Class A girls senior athlete of the year.

Bismarck Century’s Josh Berger was named Class A boys senior athlete of the year. Bowman County’s Sophia Headley was named Class B girls senior athlete of the year. Bowman County’s Taylor Wanner was named Class B boys senior athlete of the year.

Velva-Drake-Anamoose’s Anya Olson took first place in the Class B girls 100, 200 and 400. She set a new Class B girls record in the 400 with a time of 55.91 seconds. She was clocked at 11.56 seconds, which was wind-aided, in the 100 finals. Olson also ran a 23.73 in the 200, a time that was also wind-aided.

May-Port-CG’s Keaton Saastad won the Class B boys 100 in 10.88 seconds, setting a new Class B record in the event.

Below are scenes from Saturday’s action:

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum

Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL FINALS

Saturday

DIVISION I

Mira Costa d. Huntington Beach, 26-24, 25-20, 25-16

DIVISION II

Santa Ana Mater Dei d. Francis Parker, 25-12, 26-24, 19-25, 27-25

DIVISION III

Sage Hill d. Clairemont, 25-16, 25-22, 25-22

DIVISION IV

Chula Vista Mater Dei d. Wildwood, 25-22, 25-27, 25-13, 25-17

STATE FINALS SCHEDULE

At Fresno City College

Friday, May 30

DIVISION II

Santa Ana Mater De vs. Buchanan, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 31

DIVISION I

Mira Costa vs. Archbishop Mitty, 4:30 p.m.

DIVISION III

Sage Hill vs. International, 1:30 p.m.

DIVISION IV

Chula Vista Mater Dei vs. Livingston, 11 a.m.

GENEVA, Ohio — The North Central College men’s track and field team saw their first National Champion of the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championship since 2021, with Braden Nicholson crowned the National Champion in the 10,000-meter run.
 
On Thursday night, Nicholson started the weekend with a bang for the Cardinals. Nicholson earned his second National Championship title of the year, this time in the 10,000-meter race. Nicholson clocked a 29:20.59 finish, but he was not originally the obvious winner. He finished in second-place but was ultimately bumped to first after a disqualification of the originally named first place runner. Additionally, BJ Sorg took No. 12 in the run, posting a time of 30:17.57.
 
Two days later, on Saturday, Nicholson took on tough competition in the 5,000-meter run. Nicholson kept his pace, working through the pack. Sitting at No. 18 at the 2,200-meter split, he worked his way to tenth by the 2,600-meter split. With just 200 meters left, Nicholson was in second; however, the final burst of energy pushed him to sixth. Nicholson earned a sixth-place finish and All-American honors, submitting a time of 14:16.83.
 

GENEVA, Ohio — Sophomore Imani Ogunribido utilized a massive final jump to become the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Champion in the women’s triple jump Saturday, May 24. The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s and women’s track and field teams closed out an outstanding outdoor season with a total of four podium finishes at the NCAA Championships as junior Evan Lowder also earned All-American hardware, joining junior Adriana Crabtree and senior Lauren Huber who earned the distinction earlier in the weekend.

Ogunribido wasted no time making her presence known in the women’s triple jump, turning in a school-record jump of 12.65m (41’6″) on her first attempt of the day before extending that record again with her third jump to 12.67m (41’7″) and was the second-best mark headed into finals.

On her last jump of the competition, Ogunribido left it all in the pit, turning in a dominant 12.96m (42’6.25″) jump to break the school record for the third time today and claim the triple jump title. The jump ranks third all-time in Division III. Ogunribido was presented her All-American trophy by two-time long jump champion and head coach Amelia Marino (nee Glueck).

Ogunribido becomes Illinois Wesleyan’s first-ever triple jump national champion and is just the 20th individual champion in a storied Illinois Wesleyan women’s track and field program.

PUEBLO, Colo. – For the first time in program history, the California State University San Bernardino women’s track & field team competed in the finals of the NCAA Division II Championships on Saturday at the CSU ThunderDome at Colorado State Pueblo.

The 4×100 meter relay team of Alexandra Ackerman (Lake Elsinore, Calif.), Amari Weatherford (Southeast San Diego, Calif.), Coryssa Hope (Riverside, Calif.), and Hailey Hunt (Winnetka, Calif.) set a school record of 43.94 seconds, missing out on a national championships by less than .1 second. The eight points received by the Coyotes for finishing second were the first points ever earned by Cal State San Bernardino women’s track & field at the national championships.

Hunt also had a strong showing in the 100-meter dash, setting her second school record of the day at 11.28 seconds to finish fourth and add five points for the Yotes.

Weatherford and Hunt took third and fourth respectively in the 200-meter dash to add more points for the Coyotes. The duo ran 22.92 and 22.93 respectively, but the wind of 3.7 m/s will keep the times out of the record books, but still got both student-athletes on the podium.

The 4×400 rounded out the day with the fifth Coyote top-five finish of the day to earn four more points for Cal State San Bernardino. The team of Weatherford, Hope, White, and Prishencia Nnoham (Palmdale, Calif.) placed fifth with a school record time of 3:34.12.

Every aforementioned student-athlete was named an All-American for finishing in the top eight of their respective events.

With 28 points, the Coyotes finished eighth overall at the NCAA Championships.

#GoYotes